People in need now have an extra resource in De Soto.
Churches and businesses teamed up with the De Soto Ministerial Alliance to provide a Community Blessing Box outside the First United Methodist Church of De Soto, 200 Boyd St.
The motto is “Leave what you can and take what you need.”
“It’s for the community, not just our church,” First United Methodist Church Pastor Stefenie Rustige said. “Anyone can put something in, anyone can take something out. It’s not limited to food.”
In addition to nonperishable food, she said, the goal is to stock the box with bottled drinks, personal hygiene items, baby food and diapers, and flyers with information about job openings and resources.
The Community Blessing Box began offering free items on May 23, and a ribbon cutting was held on June 3, with De Soto Chamber of Commerce and area church members on hand for the celebration.
Rustige said her church congregation first had the idea for a blessing box two and half years ago. It was put on hold, though, until she mentioned the idea to De Soto Ministerial Alliance members, and they decided to partner up and get it accomplished.
Michael Golightly, a De Soto Board of Education member, said the box is in a convenient spot near Main Street and De Soto City Hall.
Pastor Chris Boyer of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church agreed the location was perfect.
Rustige said the Community Blessing Box was restocked a few times in its first week open.
She said the church has plans to create a prayer garden around the Blessings Box and move some nearby benches closer to the box so it can be more of a gathering place.
“This is the meaning of the church, doing the work of Christ, helping and loving our neighbors,” the church’s Facebook page said.
Rustige said several churches, including St. Andrew’s, Hope United Church of Christ and Flucom Methodist Church, all in De Soto, already have donated items for the box. Several businesses have said they will help, and Golightly hopes to get De Soto student groups involved.
Hopson Lumber in De Soto, Werner C. Stichling and Associates in Festus and Cotton’s Ace Hardware in De Soto donated to the construction of the enclosed structure, which Joe Micke built.